The Saddest Day

I didn't sleep a wink on the 12-hour flight back from Hawaii. I spent most of it in tears. From the moment my mom dropped us off at the airport's security gate, the waterworks turned on and I couldn't get myself to turn it off. I planned on taking a picture with my mom before we left but I started to cry so hard, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Before we entered the security gate, I begged Jeff to let me stay in Hawaii with my family. I grabbed his shirt and squeezed him tight to keep myself from full-on sobbing. He had to push me through the security line because I wanted to turn around and go home. It's incredibly sad to be back in Peoria. I wish my family was awful so I'd enjoy my space from them but the truth is, they're so wonderful and it's the only place on earth I feel unconditionally loved by the only people I can fully trust. I'm grateful to throw myself into a full work schedule starting tomorrow morning. It's a great time for me to be a work-a-holic so I can forget about my life and all that I'm missing.
Speaking of work, Jeff decided to go straight from our drive from the Chicago airport to work today. He didn't sleep on the flight, either, and is fully wasted, so if you could throw up a prayer for him to get through the day and drive safely, your prayers would not be lost on him!

A Hui Hou...

...means until we meet again in Hawaiian. Jeff insisted on surfing another two hours this afternoon in Waikiki Beach since it's our last full day on the island. I think our skin color resembles light toast from the sun. I was mesmerized by the water...I could've sat on the shore all night.

This afternoon we enjoyed Dim Sum with Mitch's wonderful family. His sister, Shari, is so much fun and built a gorgeous home with the nicest kitchen I've ever seen. She moved all her dining room and living room furniture out on the porch where they enjoy a view of the ocean and sunset. It's a perfect party house! It was nice to connect with family.

Here's our final picture of a sunset. I cried on the beach this evening when I realized it was the last sunset I'd see in Hawaii this year. I love my family, I love the beauty of the islands, and I love the multi-cultural food and atmosphere...it's always hard to return to Peoria where a six-month winter awaits. It's been unbelievably nice to enjoy maid service (thanks Mom!), meals made every night (thanks, Mitch!) and free transportation (thanks, Grandpa!). My mom washed and folded our laundry every day, made our bed, gave us lunch money, bought us clothes...It was nice to be treated like a princess for once since I feel like I do a lot at home! I did not lift a finger. Now I know why my brother won't leave the nest. He has it too good.
Oh, well. My husband promises we will move here for good once his kids are grown. When Max turns 18, I will throw him the biggest birthday party of his life! Of course Jeff and I need to save like mad to move here. The average home in Manoa is over a million dollars! We'll be lucky to live in the projects!

Paradise Cove

Tonight my parents took us to Paradise Cove to enjoy a traditional Hawaiian luau. During a demonstration before our meal, the announcer asked people to raise their hands if they've never tried poi (a taro paste that's a traditional Hawaiian staple). Jeff's hand shot up and he was called to the front of the stage to try it. It was hilarious. The hula dancer told Jeff to put his pointer finger and middle finger together and dip his fingers in the poi mixture. The expression on his face after trying it was priceless. His face scrunched up. The dancer asked if he liked it. He shook his head: YUCK! It's definitely an acquired taste!

Jeff and I also took a canoe ride along the shores of Ko'Olina before dinner. It was beautiful. The luau as a whole was a spectacular experience with authentic hula dancing, music, Hawaiian games, lei making demonstrations...I highly recommend it.

I'll leave you with another snapshot of a Hawaiian sunset. We took a million pictures of sunsets we've had the pleasure of watching this past week and all are so beautiful, the camera can't do them justice.

Taking a Hike

Jeff and I huffed and puffed our way up to the summit of the Ko'oolau Range. We endured a strenuous hike up "Mariner's Ridge" located in Hawaii Kai to enjoy a perfect panoramic view of the island. The trail is pretty steep and we had to navigate rocky terrain to pull our way up the path but it's a local favorite and Jeff was determined to climb it. Let me tell you, it's not easy hiking in a dress! I wore my least favorite dress in case it ripped.

This is one of the pictures Jeff took...Our photos fail to capture the beauty of the panorama. Frankly we were too exhausted by the time we arrived at the top to care much about the quality of pictures. We were more focused on collecting our breath to get back down. I exercised more on this trip than I had all summer. That being said, I woke up this morning with an awful headache. I think I over-exerted myself. Thankfully Jeff was understanding and we spent the morning indoors watching a movie and he gave me a great head massage for well over an hour. We spent the rest of the afternoon surfing and shopping. Funnily enough, during the hours we shopped--particularly in Ann Taylor--my headache melted away!

We ended the evening with yet another walk on the beach. I want to memorize the way the ocean sounds, smells and looks as it crashes on the shore. It's unbelievably peaceful. Hawaii is my home, no doubt about it. There's no other place on earth I'd rather be.

From Dry Land...to Catamaran

Tonight Jeff and I enjoyed a romantic stroll along the waters of Waikiki Beach at sunset. GORGEOUS.

Earlier in the evening, we took a sunset Catamaran cruise. It was the most romantic evening we've spent on the island so far. The Catamaran set sail off the shores of Waikiki Beach at 5...and we sailed past Diamond Head, enjoying the mist of the ocean and the company of those aboard. The drinks were unlimited, which was a nice perk for Jeff... It was incredibly relaxing to witness the magic of sunset over the mountains and city landscape.

Can you see the rainbow stretching across the cityscape of Waikiki? Hawaii is called the Rainbow State because of its spectacular and frequent rainbows. I've often seen double rainbows, which is quite a sight to behold!

Here's a picture of our Catamaran sailing out to sea once again...As Jeff and I strolled on the beach we reminisced about what a wonderful and carefree time we had on board...with music blaring, beautiful sights to behold, perfect weather, lots of fun and laughter. We don't want to return to Illinois where responsibilities and demands await us! But alas, all good things must come to an end.

Lost Location

Here's a fun story for all your LOST fans. I was standing at the counter of a Hawaiian jewelry store tonight when I overheard a man to my left purchasing jewelry for his mother. The salesperson asked, "Are you from around here?" He replied, "No. I'm a stunt double for LOST. I just wrapped up filming tonight and came in from L.A. last night." I exclaimed, "I LOVE THAT SHOW! YOU'VE GOT TO TELL ME WHERE YOU'RE FILMING TOMORROW!" He was incredibly nice and said he was a little disoriented because he didn't know his way around the island but he's 99% sure they're filming at Chinaman's Hat. As a matter of fact, if you look closely at scenes in LOST Season 2, you can see Chinaman's Hat from a distance. I was so psyched. This guy also helped direct the movie "Smoking Aces" and is working on a new film with Samuel L. Jackson. He was so humble and sweet. You better believe if I wasn't married I would've stalked this guy and insisted on going out to dinner or at least coffee to pump him for more information. It took all the restraint in the world for me not to ask for his number in case I got lost in looking for the LOST crew tomorrow! He said all the actors on the set are incredibly cool and nice. I was sooo tempted to invite him over for dinner at my parents' house and I desperately wanted to offer to take him around the island during his off-time but Jeff wasn't with me so I wasn't sure how he'd feel about that! I am just celebrity crazy and am thrilled to have six degrees of separation between myself and a television show I am wild about!

Day Three in Paradise

This is a view from the top of Hawai'i Kai as we drove down from one side of the island to another to beach hop...The beauty of the island always takes my breath away. It's incredibly relaxing to look out of the window and see the endless expanse of an aqua ocean on one side and gorgeous mountain ranges on the other.

Jeff is more of a dare devil than I am in the water. He wanted to go to Sandy Beach to check out the waves. The surf is so high, swimming isn't allowed and there are "rescue surfboards" out on the sand in case of an emergency. He wanted to body board but looked beat up after returning to shore, with bloody cuts on his leg and his fins missing. He got pounded but loved it!

Meanwhile, I prefer lying on the sand with my back to the sun and my nose in a good book. I needed to relax after a kayaking mishap at Lanikai Beach. I thought it would be the most fun to go kayaking to little islands scattered around Kailua Beach. Jeff was game, so we each rented a single kayak and paddled out. Turns out I'M WAY OUT OF SHAPE! Ten minutes into paddling, my arms ached so much I couldn't paddle any longer and started drifting to the shore. 45 minutes into paddling, I CAPSIZED and a kayaking tour guide had to rescue me and pulled me back onto my kayak. It was only funny in hindsight. And a little embarrassing because I kayaked throughout my high school years with no problem. Jeff was in disbelief but was very sweet about turning around an hour into our trip to head to shore.

Life's a Beach

Hawaii has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and we're blessed to experience some of them while we're visiting. Although Waikiki Beach will never rank in the top ten beaches worldwide, Jeff is enthralled by its wave-swell this time of year. We've visited two days in a row.

Jeff takes to the ocean like a kid in a candy shop. It's pretty darling to watch him dive in the water and paddle out to sea. Meanwhile, I enjoyed splashing by the shoreline and searching for shells to bring back for the kids. I'm not the strongest swimmer but I can't wait to kayak in Kailua tomorrow afternoon!


This morning after visiting my grandma on her 81st birthday, we drove to the North Shore. Hale'iwa is in the center of the North Shore is has long been known as the island's surf capitol. The town is nearly 100 years old and features many landmarks such as Matsumoto's store which has served shaved ice in paper cones for over 40 years. It's one of Jeff's favorite treats.

Hawaii is all about the food. Jeff's favorite juice is Guava Nectar juice, sold in cans as common as Pepsi throughout the island. He looks for it whenever we go grocery shopping in Peoria but it's nowhere to be found there. It's pretty yummy.

Jeff loves Guava in his juice and his shaved ice...I wish I could re-create this Hawaiian treat at home--shaved ice with condensed milk topped with Guava and Pineapple syrup. I know it sounds distasteful but it's the best thing. I love it best with the addition of taro chunks and chewy taro balls.

Hawaii is a delicious place all-around! We're soaking in the sun every day and spending lots of quality time with each other and with my family. It's been really good for our marriage. We often get so caught up in the daily grind of life and are now anticipating both of us working full-time at odd hours and trying to juggle kids, church life and a demanding work schedule. It's been so important for us to get away and connect.
My favorite part? My parents do my laundry and cooking every day. I wake up and breakfast is made and the coffee is brewed. I return from the beach with my laundry folded and bed made. IT'S AWESOME!!! I could move right in with my parents and I'd love it!

Home Sweet Home

I am the happiest girl in the world! I'm reunited with my family in the prettiest place on earth and enjoying a second honeymoon of sorts with the greatest husband on earth! Jeff and I landed on Oahu at 2pm Friday afternoon. We crashed into bed at 10pm and woke up at 6:30 this morning. After tanking a couple of cups of coffee, Jeff convinced me to hike the Manoa Falls trail which leads to a waterfall, just five minutes from my parents' place. The hike was gorgeous--it was like traveling through a floral fantasyland. I wish I could post lots of pictures but they're not loading properly to the computer...

We returned around lunchtime to feast on Hawaii's specialty--poke. This island is a seafood lover's dream--a true favorite of the locals is a dish of fresh fish--eaten diced, raw, and marinated in special spices you can't find anywhere but on Hawaii. Delish! Jeff and I are in heaven. We could eat this by the pound but it's pretty pricy!

But the experience of Hawaii is priceless. Jeff and I spent the afternoon at Waikiki beach so he could ride the waves. He actually caught 6 or 7 waves, I was so proud of him, even though he hadn't been on a surfboard in years! He had a blast. Between hiking and surfing, he got more exercise today than he had in the past month. If we lived here, I bet it would raise our lifespan because we'd be so active. Meanwhile, I burned off calories by shopping! Hopefully the kids will enjoy their gifts.

We ended the evening at a fabulous restaurant called Prince Court in the Hawai'i Prince Waikiki Hotel. My parents took us out to the best buffet dinner of our lives, complete with five types of fish, crab legs, oysters, mussels, clams, shrimp prepared every way imaginable and a dozen desserts. I think I ate four plates full of seafood, it was delish! Jeff said he enjoyed the best drink of his life--a Mango Mojito.

Eating coconut cream cake, bread pudding, and chantilly cake was a sweet way to end the day. Chantilly cake is one of my all-time favorite desserts but it's apparently a Hawaiian specialty. I always thought it was a mainstream sweet but just realized today I hadn't seen it anywhere else. Jeff said he's never heard of it. Well, I'm determined to try out recipes to bring this piece of the island home for my loved ones. It's simply the best.
Well, it's only been a day and we've got many more adventures in store...We'll be going to a luau, we're going on a whale-watching cruise, and tomorrow we're headed to the North Shore to kayak and catch some more waves. TOO FUN!!! We're having the time of our lives and will try to update the blog occasionally before we go to bed to keep our loved ones on the "mainland" informed of our happenings! Love you all and wish you were here...

First Week of Work

I received the warmest work reception of my life during my first week of orientation at 91.5 WCIC. After I was seated in the reception, the station manager (Dave Brooks) brought me coffee and ushered me into the studio for a prayer session and meeting. He prayed over my transition and training and presented me with a "Morning Show Survival Kit." The basket was beautifully wrapped with little gifts, including two WCIC shirts, a water bottle, a bottle of Excedrin Extra Strength pills (I told them I'm prone to migraines), a box of Starburst fruit chews and chocolate, a pound of coffee, and two magazines (Today's Christian Woman & Christianity Today) for my plane ride to Hawaii. Isn't that sweet? So far it's been the easiest work week of my life. I know the intensity has just begun and we've got a lot of work ahead of us, though. I had no idea how much energy is poured into putting on a morning show, not to mention post-production and promotions. My mind is reeling.
As many of you know, Scott (my new co-host) and I have been going back and forth on whether I should change my name for radio. He preferred a nickname or a new name that sounded less formal than "Catherine." I, of course, felt more comfortable with Catherine but was open to him calling me "Cat" for short. He was hoping to incorporate "Cat" into the official name of the show but a brief conference call with our consultant this morning put an end to the debate. Turns out the consultant doesn't like the sound of "Cat" and he suggested we name the show simply "Scott and Catherine." No bells and whistles. Just keeping it real and simple. I like it.

We Made It!

On September 17, 2007, Jeff and I sealed our marital covenant with a kiss. No one had faith that we'd make it. One month into our marriage, I didn't think we would, either. But I'm thrilled to say that a season of initial despair blossomed into a season of unspeakable joy. Jeff and I are more in love now than ever. Time has only grown our love and appreciation for one another. I can't imagine sharing life with anyone else. I truly married a man who exceeded any dreams I may have had for a spouse. Jeff is an exceptional husband, a dedicated father, and I am so blessed to be his wife.

Pumpkin Capital of the World

The Sponsel family blended with the Hopkins clan this weekend at the Morton Pumpkin Festival. In this photo, we're all seen enjoying a classic Hopkins dinner of sour cream chicken breasts wrapped in bacon. I couldn't believe Nat's whole family drove all the way from Indy to enjoy the parade despite torrential weather conditions. The Sponsels are the Tom Cruise of families--charismatic, opinionated, and larger than life. They were a blast to spend time with and get teased by!

My scrumptious niece Ali enjoyed her first Pumpkin parade with her daddy, Nick. She was just darling and such a joy to be around--I was hoping she'd want to stay with me and Jeff and give her parents a break but I'll bet she'd go nuts without her mom. I wish I spent more time with her.

Brielle was pretty in pink and also enjoyed her first Pumpkin parade. She was sniffling from a cold but she's such a good baby, she hardly fussed throughout the day. Both babies should've been entered in the Morton baby contest. They're so gorgeous! I pasted their pictures on my computer at work.

I don't think Max and Laney would care much for the parade if they didn't get so much candy from participants who tossed fistfuls of junk their way on the streets. They could get pretty competitive in picking up the pieces! They're still trying to trade with each other and negotiate who gets what.

Of course, my Republican-loving in-laws went wild over Aaron Schock. He's pretty cute, but I can't say I'm a big fan of his politics. I'm pretty much a Democrat to the core, which makes me more of an oddity in this family than being a minority is! I respect their opinions and I don't take our differences personally.
I just feel that poverty is the greatest crisis in our country and the economy has taken a turn for the worse under the Bush administration. It's also the chief concern of the Democratic party. With foreclosures, declining housing equity and opportunity, job losses, stagnant wages, and lack of affordable healthcare, more and more people are being affected. And, of course, those at the bottom face the most uncertain futures of all.
The war in Afghanistan has gone on for seven years now, with only an escalation in violence in most regions...The war in Iraq has gone on for more than five and we were deceived into waging that war in the first place.
A reported 1.3 million abortions were performed in 2006. I don't think it matters whether a Republican or Democrat is in office--abortion will take place regardless so that issue doesn't factor into who I vote for. I also don't think Palin could seriously preach the effectiveness of abstinence-only programs when her own teenage daughter is a pregnant teen statistic.
Ok, I'm off my soap box now and onto bed! Nighty-night!

Lunchtime

Jeff & I took a lunch break with the kids at Jefferson Elementary School this afternoon. (Sorry for the fuzzy picture--the old camera refuses to flash).
We thought it'd be fun to swing by Culver's and buy them kids meals with--oh my goodness--a Cherry Coke and fries! Anyway, this was a little trickier than I originally thought. The kids have different lunch breaks. Laney's lunch is at 11:45 while Max has lunch at 12:15. I called the school ahead of time to ask if we could pull Max out ten minutes early so we could have lunch altogether but was denied that privilege. We ended up having lunch with Max independently. Poor Jeff had to block off an hour and a half for lunch since everything took so long!
Once we picked up lunch and arrived at Jefferson, we checked in at the office and met Laney in the cafeteria. We finished eating by noon and asked Laney to show us her classroom. But the teacher's aide refused to let us go up to the classroom, saying it was recess time and she had to go outside. I was not a happy camper. Then the principal took charge of the cafeteria, directed the aides to turn off their walkie talkies, and in her hostile manner ordered the kids out and about.
I was beyond turned off.
At that moment I regretted letting the kids enroll in Morton Schools. We never had a problem with Whittier or Valeska Hinton Schools in Peoria. They promoted a family-friendly environment and encouraged parents to pop in and have free reign with their kids. I am now intent on saving up money aggressively so that when Jeff and I have our own kids, they can enroll in a loving, private school!

Family Night

Some people have asked why Jeff & I are so busy on the nights we have the kids (basically Saturday-Tuesday). Well, Jeff happens to be the kind of father who actually engages his children--constantly--and I'm roped into doing that, too. My friends know not to call Monday and Tuesday nights unless I have a women's meeting through church. From the moment the kids walk in the door, they consume our world. We have dinner together, clean up, do homework, play games, have dessert, Max reads, we have family devotionals, the kids recite their monthly Bible verse, and it takes me 45 minutes to tuck Laney into bed. She's always asking me for stories. It's exhausting.
Anyway, the other night, Laney got into a little trouble for talking back. Defiance is becoming more of a common theme in our home. It's the tween phase. I'm dreading the teen years. Laney doesn't want to do chores. She also doesn't enjoy family night as much anymore.
"I just want to play, I don't want to do chores. And why do we have to do everything together all the time?" she asked. "My mom leaves us alone and we play with friends or watch TV and do whatever we want. But we always play games when we're with you."
Jeff responded, "We're a family and families do things together. Besides, we only see you half the week."
"But I only see my friends here half the week, too," said Laney.
I told her, "You're lucky to have a dad who actually wants to spend time with you and loves you. One day you'll appreciate it."
Laney wants her own phone line, she wants more free time, she wants cable TV and could it please be hooked up to her room? I think it's interesting to see how kids evolve into wanting their independence. I think it's moderately healthy. And we do give her plenty of lee-way to spend time with friends and enjoy quiet time alone, especially on the weekends. But Jeff is insistent on spending quantity and quality time with them, especially when they're young, no matter how they feel about it! And I love that about him. Most people I know buy cable to have the television baby-sit their kids.

Lost...and found

I've got this gorgeous Kate Spade wallet that my brother and sister purchased as a Christmas gift for me two years back. More specifically, it's a red "Remy Jane Street" calfskin leather checkbook with contrast stitching. Well, Saturday night as Jeff and I left Burger King in St. Louis with the kids, we swapped off so I could drive and he could take a break. I propped my bag on top of the car and didn't realize that I left my wallet up there, too. I pulled out of the parking lot and cruised along for a good 15 minutes before I heard a little voice inside my head go, "Where is your wallet?" It was almost audible and I thought it was Jeff speaking (although it wasn't). I told Jeff, "Could you check my bag to see if my wallet is there?" He rummaged through it but couldn't find the wallet. My heart started to race. I was going 65 m.p.h. but screeched to a halt on the highway and pulled over to search the seats for my dear wallet. Finally, I threw my hands in the air and screamed, "I'VE GOT TO GO BACK TO FIND IT!!!"
I threw my cell phone at Jeff and he called around to find the number for the Burger King we just left...I thought, "Surely, it's gone. It was a sketchy fast-food joint...there were teenagers around...my wallet alone is worth $175...I've got credit cards, my driver's license...I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S GONE. I'M SO SCREWED!" Meanwhile, I heard Jeff on the phone go, "Thanks. We'll be right there." He turned to me and said, "They found it."
Once I pulled into the parking lot, I raced in and the manager pulled my wallet from the safe in the back. He said a little girl found my wallet in the parking lot and turned it in. I checked inside. Not a single thing was missing. I had $120 in cash, one credit card, one debit card, a book of stamps, my driver's license, a health insurance card, a Starbucks gift card...Not a thing was stolen.
Right then, my heart flooded with gratitude that there is some common decency in the world. My faith in humanity was a little restored by a little girl who has no idea how relieved and thankful I was to have my beloved wallet and money back where it belonged. I wish I could tell her how that simple act made such an impression on me. I would've given her all the cash in my wallet, I was so grateful.

Six Flags

On Saturday, Jeff & I took the kids to Six Flags in St. Louis. This was our second year taking them and while we all had a blast, I think I'm still suffering from whip lash thanks to the Evel Knievel roller coaster (as shown in the background of the picture). It's a wooden roller coaster that opened this summer at Six Flags, themed to the famous stunt-performer. It features an 80-foot drop with a speed of 50 MPH, going through a course of 2,700 feet of track and riding through 16 hills. It crosses over and under itself seventeen times. I almost lost my sunglasses by the end of the ride since I was burying my head in Laney's arm. As we approached the biggest drop, she screamed, "Thanks for being a good stepmom, Catherine! I may never see you again!"

One of my favorite rides (since it's MUCH tamer) was the Scooby-Doo Swamp. You just ride in a little boat in a river and shoot laser beams at glow-in-the-dark spooks. It's quite a relaxing time. Now, that's my kind of ride! The kids loved meeting Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo outside the ride. Max went right up to Scrappy Doo and gave him a big hug. It was darling.

No matter how many high thrill rides the park offered, the kids couldn't resist playing in the Bugs Bunny Playground. Max and I stayed in Bugs Bunny Land while Jeff and Laney went on the Superman ride, featuring a 230-foot drop. She about lost her breath but managed to keep her lunch down. Jeff complained that we didn't go on ALL the roller coasters that turned you upside-down...but I'm just not a daredevil. I'm sorry but I just don't think it's fun to push someone to the point of puking. The Screaming Eagle was about as far as I'd go for a thrill. Disneyland is much more my speed. One day, if we can save up to go there, we'll scrap Six Flags and enjoy many rounds of "It's a Small World."

House Work

About a week ago, I finally got fed up enough with the awful paint jobs in the house to enlist the help of my friend, Elizabeth, to help me stage the house to sell. It's been on the market for about 3 years and no one has ever made an offer. This is obviously a huge red flag but I chose to just plow ahead in prayer to show the house myself until someone made an offer. We had multiple showings over the summer but no offer, no matter how low the price was. As I gear up to work full time in two weeks I decided to make all the changes to the house I possibly could within our budget so when the fall season rolls around, it'll be in better shape to show.

I wanted to start with the orange dining room but Jeff insisted on repainting the living room first. The stark white color makes the house look even older than it is...so with the help of my friend, we rolled taupe paint over the walls. The end result is it looks much warmer and cozier. It's amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do to change the feel of a room.

It's hard to get a good picture of what the room looks like on camera because the backlight from the windows washes the color out. While the paint job may not be the most professional, it was my first time trying it out...my back and arms are still sore from the seven hours of arm movement it took to coat the room.

The most disasterous part of the house is the bathroom. It's tiny and unappealing. The wooden countertop was stained and water soaked through the finish Jeff apparently put on to protect the wood. It looked horrific.

However, after sanding it down, applying a coat of primer and two coats of latex-based floor finish, the countertop doesn't look as awful. It's still not ideal but it's a huge improvement. I also primed and painted the shelving space above the toilet because it was half done.

Here on the right is a snapshot of the orange walls that colored the dining room. Obviously, it's not in everyone's taste. Or anyone's taste for that matter with the exception of Jeff. He didn't want to paint over it but in keeping with our theme of staging the house to sell, I thought it best to coat the walls with a neutral color: toast. It's two shades lighter than the living room.

Again, it's hard for me to take a picture of the dining room with the backlight, but here's a shot I took this afternoon. The kids think the neutral color is a huge improvement. I agree with Jeff that it's a little boring but it's much more buyer-friendly.

But my favorite part of the house now is the front yard. Not that it's a spectacular garden but it's much more manicured and I like looking at the flowers. Dad Hopkins week-whacked the lawn (did you know there was such a thing?), while Mom Hopkins helped us choose flowers, perennials in particular, to decorate the front for curb appeal.

I even got to choose a plant and decided on a HIBISCUS. It's Hawaii's state flower. The woman at the nursery said, "Hibiscus plants wither in the winter. It stops budding and starts to die when there's a drastic temperature change." THAT'S JUST LIKE ME! I thought right then, "I've got to take care of this plant. It has my personality." I talk to it to encourage growth. I'm trying to find a sitter for it while we're away in Hawaii. I'm nervous it'll rain and get cold while we're gone and it'll die. I can't let that happen. So if anyone wants to baby-sit my new flower, just let me know!